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On a day where she tasted Group One success with Gaultier in the Levin Classic (1600m) in 2017, Matamata trainer Danica Guy was at it again when she produced Germanicus to take out Group III Bluestar Anniversary Handicap (1600m).

The tag of New Zealand’s best maiden was emphatically stripped from the shoulders of exciting three-year-old Jennifer Eccles when she stormed past her female age group rivals to take out the Group II SKYCITY Eight Carat Classic (1600m) in the hands of visiting rider James McDonald.

Matamata visitor Lilikoi showed she was on track for further age-group riches this summer with a comprehensive victory in Saturday’s Group III Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni bringing a pedigree update for her Karaka bound half-brother by Vadamos.

The stocks of ‘young gun’ sire Charm Spirit (Invincible Spirit) continue to rise with the win by 3YO colt Scorpz in the Group III Wellington Stakes at Otaki on Friday confirming the cracking start Charm Spirit has made at stud.

New Zealand-bred three year-old Hard Press made it back-to-back wins when successful at Sandown on Wednesday over 1000m bringing a good pedigree update for his full brother headed to Karaka Book 1 in 2020.

Impressive young sire Charm Spirit (Invincible Spirit) confirmed his class among an outstanding group of emerging stallion talent, when striking his second Group winning blow from his first southern hemisphere 3YO crop at the weekend.

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Aretha opened her three-year-old account in dramatic fashion when she took out the Group III Hawke’s Bay Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) in a grandstand finish.

Exciting New Zealand galloper Te Akau Shark will kick-off his spring campaign in Australia on Saturday where he will contest the Group II Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in front of some of his local owners, including Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Captain Paul Gallen.

Leading young sire Charm Spirit's progeny continued on with their fine form overnight when his 3YO son Kick On defeated the older horses to land a thrilling renewal of the Group III Tattersalls Sovereign Stakes (1600m) in England.

The impressive run of form of progeny from the first-crop of Windsor Park's star miler Charm Spirit (IRE) continued on Saturday when Heirborn defied a moderate tempo and a wide passage to close well from the rear and claim the VRC Member Helen Saffin Handicap (1400m) at Flemington.

Yesterday’s impressive Australian 2YO winner Heirborn highlighted the weekend return of Leading First Season Sire Charm Spirit (Invincible Spirit) to his southern hemisphere base at Windsor Park Stud in Cambridge.

The Danny Shum-trained Green Energy, a New Zealand-bred son of Rip Van Winkle, returned from an eight-month injury absence to win Monday’s public holiday feature at Sha Tin, the Class 2 Hong Kong Reunification Cup Handicap (1200m).

The Group I Cox Plate (2040m) has been a long held ambition for connections of dual Group winner Te Akau Shark, but the Jamie Richards-trained runner is being set for another Group One target before he heads to Melbourne.

Talented Australian 2YO Sansom scored a decisive win at Pakenham in Victoria on Friday evening to preface a 2YO weekend-winning double for his sire Charm Spirit (Invincible Spirit) whose daughter Intimidate was successful the following day at Riccarton.

Class performer Sleeping Beauty headlined a great weekend for her sire Rip Van Winkle (Galileo) when scoring back to back black-type victories in the 1400m Listed Weight-For-Age Tauranga Classic on Saturday.